hill in a handbag

For the love of money, money, money...

Check out this pic...U2 averaged the same amount for every ten seats at 360.  If my math is correct they made about $257,040 the entire October tour (102 shows) and $736,421,586 twenty-eight years later for 360 (110 shows.)  I'm not entirely sure how inflation works but I suspect that's above par. Right?

PS  This was my baby bro Jeremy's 2nd birthday.  Not that he's reading this...right?

Totally irrelevant!

Dear Rock Star,

    I'm pretty sure the first signs of becoming irrelevant in music world is worrying about becoming irrelevant.  At this stage in the game getting radio play, a song in a club or getting the kids to turn out does not matter.  Give it up...it's a bullshit excuse.

    What matters, you ask?  Making a great friggin' album that you can stand by and that can stand by you.  Give up on concept albums, give up on time tested combos.  Just go with your gut and your heart because that's how it worked out so well when you were young.  The whole point of this conversation is to discuss an album you made 20 years ago...an album you boast about playing seven straight songs from live back on it's tour.  You STILL play like five of those songs straight through.  RELEVANT?  How many can ya play of your newest album?  Huh?

    The times the are a changin' and you should be worried.  But not about the radio.  Worry about staying in good grace with iTunes.  And PLEASE don't even mention file sharing.  Maybe you gotta pay the bills but people aren't going to stop file sharing and the bottom line is that you're artists.  Unless...it's not about art anymore and then please let me know now so I can retire.  I'm still here because I believe in the art.

    Wake up old man!  You just finished the best (quality) tour of my professional career and the companion album kinda sucked.  Imagine what you can do with a solid album filled with life and soul instead of antidotes and ambiance.  The world is still your oyster if you want it.  You have no competition...definitely not Lady Gaga.  Come on, that's who we're talking about here, right?

    I kinda do appreciate the humility you show on this subject...but more-so it shows how out of touch you are with your audience.  Just like your songs, we'll stick by you but you gotta stick by us too.  We'll make you relevant if you don't make us irrelevant.

    Sorry to be harsh but I've never kissed your ass and I'm not gonna start now.  I'm quite confident that you still got it even if you think you've misplaced it.  Hint:  It's in the songs.

    Love,

    Me

    P.S.  Thanks for explaining Even Better Than The Real Thing.  If you had said it was a piece of Pop Art back in 1991, I wouldn't have spent the past 20 years saying it was the only piece of crap on the album.  Maybe it would have been a better fit on Pop.  Oh.

 

(No clue what I'm talking about?  Click here.)

Question O' The Day: Cover Me

A conversation last month made me ponder the quality of songs U2 have covered over the years.  The general consensus is that they suck as a cover band. Which leads me to the question o' the day...

What's your favorite cover song U2 have recorded?

What's your least favorite?

Use this link for list of all U2 songs.

 

Bad

U2 circa 1978.  Street Mission.  Those lil' U2's are adorable.  But, oh Lord...this is bad.  So glad they squeaked by on stage presence and a fab guitar.  What would my life have been like if they remained in this incarnation?  [Dream sequence...] Bad dream sequence!  Apparently, I would have been addicted to heroin and the IRA and pro-Aparthide and anti-civil rights and generally unaware of social issues.  I never would have gone to the Enchanted Under The Sea dance and fallen in love with George McFly!  Wait.  I'm confused.  Just watch...

Tell me, tell me, tell me, c'mon tell me the answer...

So those of you new to hill in a handbag may or may not have noticed that I am shameless U2 fan.  Obviously I'll write about other topics as well but I like what I like, like it or not.  It's my blog and I'll cry if I want to.

Speaking of U2...

The gang over at @U2 have come up with a very cool fan survey.  Some were absolute no brainers.  I know those answers like I know my own name and have for quite sometime.  But some required much thought and surprised me when I finally made a choice.

Much thought:  What's do I think is the most underrated U2 album?  My answer is probably Pop.  Would I prefer to see shows in stadiums or arenas?  Stadiums (but I did not realize this until recently).  If I could go back in time I would want to see Red Rocks or Live Aid...no, Red Rocks for sure.  Best song live?  Streets.  My fav song from Achtung Baby is The Fly (this is new info to me too). Favorite song from All That You Can't Leave Behind is Kite.

No brainer:  The mullet!  Fav/least fav album...The Joshua Tree/October.  The Edge is the most skilled musician.  Favorite song from Boy is Out Of Control, from The Unforgettable Fire is A Sort Of Homecoming, favorite song from The Joshua Tree is With Or Without You and Rattle And Hum is All I Want Is You.  Fav collaboration is She's A Mystery with Roy Orbison. Fav song cover...Dreaming With Tears In My Eyes. Favorite b-side is Electrical Storm.  And...my favorite video is If God Will Send His Angels...you know, because of the "fresh booze."  FYI...false advertising.  There was no offer of booze, fresh or otherwise.

My absolute favorite question was a no brainer as well.  What would I rather do at a U2 show...pick the setlist, watch from backstage, have Bono dedicate a song to me, take over vocals or guitar or bass or drums, dance with Bono.  OMG!  PICK THE SETLIST!!!  What would you do?

Some of the questions made me feel like I did the time I took that Alcoholics Anonymous questionnaire for fun (many years ago).  If you answer yes for more than four of the twelve questions then you probably need to go to AA.  Well I answered yes to more than four but they weren't the really bad ones!  I've NEVER spent more than 24 hours in a queue for a show.  Maybe 20 hours but never 24.

Also, I must confess...I really really do care about aid for Africa, a lot.  But seriously? Louisville+church+breaking/entering = My Africa activism. Bahahahaha!

Anyway, you U2ey friends should really take this survey.  It's fun and I want to know your answers too so come back and comment. Click here.